Did early biblical figures like Isaac abstain from intimate relations until marriage?

Question

In biblical accounts, several figures, such as Isaac, are noted to have married at a relatively older age compared to today's standards. Isaac, for instance, married at the age of 40. Given the societal norms and the cultural backdrop of those times:

Is there any indication or evidence in traditional sources that figures like Isaac abstained from intimate relations until they were officially married? Were there any mentions or implications about their relationships or interactions with women prior to their recorded marriages? How did societal norms of their times view celibacy or waiting until marriage for intimate relations?

Answer 1

I don't know the source off the top of my head, but I recall seeing a source (maybe a midrash) that says that when Yaakov conceived Reuvain not only was that his first time ever having intercourse it was the first time in his life he had ever had a seminal emmission. I believe he was in his 50s or 60s?

Answer 2

Keep in mind that the Rambam (Ishus 1:1) states that before the giving of the Torah marriage was simply an act of intimacy with intent to marry. No formal ceremony. So your question is basically, "Were the patriarchs engaging in recreational sex." I do feel like I have to say that the early biblical figures were paragons of moral virtue.

That being said, in I think there are two proofs to your question (besides the midrash about Yaakov others quoted.) First, the medrash (quoted in Rashi to Genesis 37:2) says that among the accusations Joseph accused his brothers of was a claim of having relations with the local girls. Second, the incident with Yehuda and Tamar.

Putting these two together you get a picture that an accusation of a casual sexual relationship was considered to be a vicious slander, but under the right circumstances it wasn't something they viewed as forbidden.

(Generally, the nefesh hachaim says the avos kept the mitzvos but since it was pre-Torah if they saw the ratzon Hashem conflicted with the mitzvos of the Torah they would follow the ratzon Hashem.)

Answer 3

The pasuk says:

Genesis 49:3

רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣רִי אַ֔תָּה כֹּחִ֖י וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית אוֹנִ֑י יֶ֥תֶר שְׂאֵ֖ת וְיֶ֥תֶר עָֽז׃ Reuben, you are my first-born, My might and first fruit of my vigor, Exceeding in rank And exceeding in honor.

Rashi comments, quoting from Genesis Rabbah 98:

THE BEGINNING OF MY VIGOR — That is the first drop [of semen] (טִפָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה) as he had not experienced a seminal emission from all of his days [until that time] (Genesis Rabbah 98:4)

The wordinh "טִפָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה" indicated that he never had Sex before, never masturbated before and never saw an emission of semen.

The Pasuk speaks about Jacob, but Jacob was 84 when he married Leah while Isaac was between 40-60 when he first married/had relations with Rivkah. So KalVaChomer to your question.